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Provide For Your Children While Protecting Your Finances

For couples with children, one of the most complicated aspects of getting a divorce is making a plan to raise your children in more than one household. After negotiating a custody arrangement, the next step is to reach an agreement on how both parents will split the costs of raising children.

The state of California expects both parents to contribute financially to the welfare of their children, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that both parents split the costs evenly. Bob Callahan will help you reach an agreement that reflects your children’s best interests while also looking out for your financial interests. He will ensure that you are not bearing an unfair share of the cost of raising your children.

Whether you are hoping to collect child support or are being asked to pay it, Bob can help you negotiate an arrangement that will help you provide for your children without having to give up your right to maintain stable finances to live independently.

Calculating, Establishing And Modifying Child Support Payments

Child support is calculated based on a range of factors, including:

  • The earning capacity of each party
  • The ability of the supporting spouse to pay support
  • The assets and debt of each spouse
  • The age and health of each spouse
  • The length of the marriage
  • The parenting (timeshare) arrangement

Even after a child support order is established, sooner or later it will probably be necessary to modify that arrangement as incomes, parenting timeshare and a child’s needs change over time. Bob can help ensure that the numbers going into these calculations are fair and accurate and that they reflect the true financial situation of each party.

Spousal Support In California

The intended purpose of spousal support is to allow both spouses to enjoy a lifestyle as close to the lifestyle they enjoyed while married as possible. However, the more economically disadvantaged spouse is not guaranteed to get support. The court has a lot of discretion in this area. Spouses will never be left destitute, but they may not get the amount of support they expect, especially if marital misconduct is involved. Some of the key factors used to determine spousal support include:

  • The income and estimated earning capacity of each spouse
  • Infidelity, abuse or another marital misconduct
  • The length of the marriage
  • The ages of each spouse
  • The physical and mental health of each spouse

Spousal support payments end automatically when the spouse receiving support either dies or remarries. Either spouse can petition the court for a modification in the support agreement if there is a significant change in incomes. In cases where support is not initially awarded at the time of the divorce, the court reserves the right to accept a petition for support at a later date.

Learn More About Spousal And Child Support Today

Don’t go into support negotiations unprepared. To make sure spousal support is calculated fairly or to strike the right balance between your children’s needs and your own in child support negotiations, you should speak with an experienced attorney. With more than 45 years of legal experience, Bob Callahan can help you navigate your support matter effectively.

To schedule an appointment by phone or in person, call The Law Office of Robert E. Callahan at CALL or send an email. From his office in Newport Beach, Mr. Callahan serves clients throughout Orange County.